Cherokee Brave Dogwood

Cherokee Brave is the U.S. trade name for the dogwood selection registered under the name Comco Number 1. Its spring bracts read as deep red overall, with pale bases and notched tips; the young foliage is purplish red before maturing to dark green. The original cultivar account describes a vigorous, upright tree that becomes spreading with age. ## Form and seasonal display This deciduous flowering dogwood has an upright, rounded outline and broadens as its branches mature. Spring flowers are small yellow clusters framed by showy bracts, followed by bright red fruits. The large leaves provide a dense summer canopy and turn red before leaf fall. Existing mature-size estimates of 20–30 feet tall and 25–35 feet wide are consistent with the cultivar’s reported small-tree scale. ## Placement Give the crown room to spread and use the tree as a flowering specimen or for light shade. Flowering dogwoods grow in sun or partial shade; in hotter parts of the range, afternoon shade and regular irrigation help reduce stress. Plant in rich, well-drained soil and avoid waterlogged sites. Powdery-mildew resistance is reported for Comco No. 1, but monitor plants for other dogwood pests and diseases. [Cultivar patent](https://patents.google.com/patent/USPP10166P/en) · [Trees and Shrubs Online cultivar account](https://www.treesandshrubsonline.org/articles/cornus/cornus-florida-cultivars-a-g/) · [UF/IFAS flowering dogwood guide](https://ask.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/ST185) ## Maintenance Water regularly during establishment and dry periods. Keep soil well drained, avoid overhead irrigation, and prune only to remove dead, damaged, or crossing branches.